Woody Canyon, Trachyte Creek

Last Candition:
September 17, 2011

4.1

Great canyon! Took the alternative approach from BluuGnome to the main canyon. Canyon is in keeper mode. Lots of partner captures and assists. Used the sandtrap on the one rappel otherwise meat anchor and handlined down then captured the last person. Some potholes were chest deep, but still several several feet from the top. One big swimmer that was still low enough to present as a challenge, but with some underwater stem action one person was able to step up and get out and then assist. Some of us wore 4/3 wetsuits and others 5mm. Everyone stayed comfortable. Fun and challenging time!

Whoa, potholes are nearly full of sand. Almost not recognizable from last time I did it in 2015. Window is buried in sand. The last long pothole isn't even a pothole anymore. Not currently "R" canyon so not as fun. But of course, that could change.

Woody is a great canyon in all conditions. Canyon was dry except for 3 spots that was knee deep. Anchor was in good shape and more debris fell in that area for anchor options. Took approx 4.5 hours car-to-car. Rescued a snake trapped in one of the first potholes and took him through the canyon in a potshot..."best snake adventure ever!"

Canyon was in full keeper mode. Stink water was in some of the deeper holes but not over mid-chest. Used partner assist and a pot shot or two. The canyon earns its 4 in these conditions. We were a little slow and took 7ish hours w/Tom Jones approach/exit. This canyon is a lot of fun.

Did this canyon 1 year ago when almost completely full. That made it relatively easy. Yesterday, we found the canyon more in a "half full" condition, meaning water in almost all potholes, but escapes were more much more difficult due to lower water levels and the thin layer of slippery mud for about a foot above water line at most all potholes. Wetsuits appreciated even though air temps quite warm. Potshots and/or sandtrap of virtually no use. Used mainly pack tosses, meat anchors & partner assists. Still some over-the-head pools, but fortunately, no skanky water. For coordinates to the beginning of the continuous technical section, that doesn't take you as far up canyon, try these: N37° 51' 35.1"; W110° 32' 48.9"

Very low water in Woody, making it a lot of work to get into and out of some potholes. Only a couple of potholes had water, including the big keeper. We escaped that one by one person boosting another at the edge, and the boosted person sort of shot putted a potshot over the lip. It was an adventurous "swim" (more like a thrash) across the keeper with a full potshot! Such a great canyon though. I love the problem-solving. Hot enough and little enough water that no one used a wetsuit. The best way to enter the canyon is using BluuGnome's beta and going cross-country rather than down Woodruff. An astonishing variety of desert flowers were in full bloom. Lovely.

Two people, 6.5 hours car to car. Used Tom's map and beta, I think it is the right way to go. No wetsuits used, but I got cold. Two swimmers. All potential keepers are in keeper mode. Nasty, salty, fish-smelling water. Partner assists and multiple challenging potshot throws. Good canyon but it would be better with more water. I would hold off for now. Low water = 2 rating.

Woody is mostly dry now except for a few half-deep potholes. The keeper pothole surprisingly is still about 3/4 full and does require a swimming escape. We had lots of fun jumping into the keeper pothole over and over again. Even when mostly dry Woody was a lot of fun and seems to always deliver.

Very recent rains have filled the canyon from the top, all the way through. We all used wetsuits, but temps were only in the upper 70's. Some water was quite cold. Short swimmers in several places. If you like wet canyons, this is the time to do it. Very fun, but the challenge of some of the escapes was non-existent because of the high levels.

With warm ambient temperatures no wetsuits were needed. Water was low throughout, even able to go under the arch to exit the keeper. One webbing anchor in good shape around an arch just before the last keeper helped us avoid needing an Ibis hook.

Very full of water, no trouble with pot holes. The "monster" keeper was so full we swam over and out and didn't realize it was the keeper until after the canyon was done, did have one tough keeper but after a pack toss we got out fine. Wore dry suits and did just fine.